Try Smoked Coffee on National Coffee Day Today, Sept. 29

Makana Market & Deli in Kaka‘ako offers a unique twist on your typical morning brew—and six other ways to celebrate this caffeinated holiday.

By Catherine Toth Fox

Published: 2017.09.29 08:41 AM

Makana Market & Deli in Kaka‘ako serves smoked coffee, a unique way to celebrate National Coffee Day today, Sept. 29.

Photo: Catherine Toth Fox

There aren’t many things Ignacio Fleishour won’t throw in his smoker—including coffee beans.

The chef-owner of Makana Market & Deli, which quietly opened on Cooke Street in Kaka‘ako five months ago, serves something called smoked coffee. Fleishour takes a mix of Nicaraguan and Kona coffee beans and throws them in the smoker three times before grinding them and serving the drink, typically cold and sweetened with either organic vanilla milk or his concoction of orange juice, orange zest and cinnamon.

It’s the perfect out-of-the-box drink to celebrate National Coffee Day today.

It’s a strong cup with a blast of smokiness that’s unexpected but not harsh. It’s better cold—we tried it hot and it just didn’t have the same smoothness—and with a touch of sweetness.

If you like smoked coffee, you’ll love this place, which makes good use of the giant smoker in the kitchen. The vegetarian ‘Āina Benedict ($10) features patties made with smoked ‘ulu (breadfruit), kalo and ‘uala (sweet potato) served on poi English muffins with a poached Ma‘ili Farm egg and house-made hollandaise. Fleishour smokes the ‘ahi for his ‘ahi melt ($10), which is served with an aioli made with wasabi and ʻōlena (turmeric) on a ciabatta roll. Even the house-made hot sauce is made with habanero peppers smoked in the kitchen.

Here are six other shops offering deals to celebrate National Coffee Day today in Hawai‘i, the 14th best coffee city in the U.S., according to a recent WalletHub study:

1. Kona Coffee Purveyors

This coffee shop on the ground floor of the International Market Place is offering a free 8-ounce, freshly brewed 100 percent Kona coffee with the purchase of any pastry, sandwich or dessert between noon and 6 p.m. Yes, that includes the famed kouign amann by b. Patisserie, located inside the shop.

2. Local Joe

This unassuming coffee shop in Chinatown, somewhat hidden behind O’Toole’s Irish Pub, is being a little mysterious about what it’s offering today. Its social media post just said, “Free treats and Regular Joe coffee size upgrades until noon.” Still, coffee of the day here is locally sourced and roasted daily on-site. Upgrade, please!

3. Dunkin’ Donuts

Purchase any medium or larger-size cup of hot Dunkin’ coffee today and get another medium-size hot coffee for free. And very few things pair better with coffee than doughnuts, so you may as well grab a few glazed treats, too. Plus, there’s a drive-thru.

4. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

5. McDonald’s of Hawai‘i

The fast-food chain is offering two deals for National Coffee Day: $2 for any small McCafé espresso drink and a free medium McCafé drink with any purchase through the McDonald’s app (which you can download here). Hawai‘i restaurants are giving out free small Royal Kona coffees with any purchase, but only from 6 to 11 a.m. today.

Starbucks? No

Don’t expect Starbucks to be handing out free cups of its popular brews. Instead, the chain will use National Coffee Day to each its customers about the importance of sustainably sourced coffee. According to the company, participating shops around the country will replace their menu boards with information about how customers who purchase coffee here are making a difference for those whose livelihoods depend on it. You’ll learn about how Starbucks is committed to ethically sourced coffee and has donated more than 30 million trees to coffee farms in the past two years. It’s not a free cup of coffee, but at least the one you’re paying for has positive, global impact.